Cruz Ball Making Waves in Basketball

Cruz Ball, an emerging local nonprofit led by Scotts Valley Middle School basketball coach Jefferson Dela Cruz just hosted its fifth local tournament, Pot of Gold.

“We are making waves in the local community by bringing together competitive basketball teams and presenting opportunities in Santa Cruz.” said Jefferson Dela Cruz.

Cruz Ball’s mission is to unite ballers and create a community for all to thrive.

On March 8, sixth and seventh grade teams competed. Sixth grade teams were SC Dreamers (Santa Cruz), Los Gatos BBA, and Team CB (Scotts Valley). Seventh grade teams were Erwin-Robinson (Santa Cruz), San Jose Spartans, Triple Threat (Santa Cruz), and SC Waves (Santa Cruz).

The top scorers in the tournament were William Robinson (Erwin-Robinson), Julian Gonzalez (Triple Threat), Grayson Murawsky (SC Waves).

At each tournament, a “Very Impactful Player” award is given. Each team coach chooses the player who made the most positive impact. The VIP’s recognized were Alex Donaldson (SC Dreamers), Andre Nickolaev (Team CB), Emilio Puhvel (ER), Julian Gonzalez (Triple Threat), and Grayson Murawsky (SC Waves).

The tournament highlight was the final championship game between Erwin-Robinson and San Jose Spartans. The clash between the San Jose Spartans and Erwin-Robinson unfolded with a fervor befitting two undefeated powerhouses hungry to maintain their spotless records. In a game where every basket counted, it was Erwin-Robinson who emerged triumphant with a resounding 44-31 victory over the Spartans.

The first half saw a flurry of scoring exchanges, with Hudson Fry and Bryson Erwin showcasing their offensive prowess for Erwin-Robinson, countered by the sharpshooting of Paulos Atikilt and Kiyan Panahi for the Spartans.

However, it was William Robinson’s dominant presence on the court that shifted the momentum in Erwin-Robinson’s favor, as he delivered crucial shots and free throws to extend his team’s lead.

Despite valiant efforts from the Spartans, highlighted by Marcelo Mendoza Higareda’s relentless scoring, they struggled to contain Erwin-Robinson’s offensive onslaught in the second half.

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Cruz Ball’s next tournament will be on May 10. Interested teams can learn more at cruzball.org/register/. Cruz Ball is also hosting a Cruz Ball Cup starting in August. Learn more at cruzball.org/cup. Follow at www.instagram.com/cruzball831/

Photos Courtesy of @SVMommyPhotography